Family dog that killed Mesa baby euthanized

'Absolutely devastated' parents, both officers, sign order to put down dog

Maricopa County animal control officials euthanized a chow mix Thursday morning after it fatally mauled a 2-week-old girl in east Mesa as she lay in a bassinet Wednesday.

"They are like any other parent can imagine - they are absolutely devastated by the loss of their baby girl," Mesa police Detective Steve Berry said of the child's parents.

While the case would be tragic under any circumstances, it hits particularly close to home for the officers involved. The child's father is a Mesa police officer, and her mother is an officer with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community police.

"Unless you go through a similar incident, you couldn't know how they feel," Berry said.

Police have yet to name the parents, but records show that Mirna Ramirez and Marcus Rudolph own the house, in the 11000 block of East Stearn Avenue.

Ramirez frantically called 911 and later told police she had placed the infant in a bassinet about 7 p.m. to use the bathroom. She returned to find the child with severe head injuries. When paramedics arrived, the baby was unresponsive and pronounced dead.

Shortly thereafter, the dog, a chow/golden retriever mix, was quarantined at the east shelter of the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, said Linda Soto, shelter division manager.

"He was extremely calm here," Soto said of the dog, estimated at more than 65 pounds. "He appeared to be a friendly animal. He showed no outward aggression toward anyone here."

Before noon Thursday, the family signed an order to euthanize the dog, Soto said.

State law requires biting animals be quarantined for 10 days, Soto said. The observation time allows officials to test the animals for rabies and diseases.

Maricopa County documented 2,556 cases of animal bites between July 1 and Dec. 31, according to county figures. Of those cases, 601 animals were quarantined.

However, the figures represent cases reported in unincorporated Maricopa County and do not include those investigated by local agencies, Soto said. And in most cases, fatalities are rare.

However rare, the child's death has affected almost everyone at the Mesa Police Department, where Rudolph is a seven-year veteran.

"Pretty much, it's one of the most traumatic and tragic things that we have had happened," said Sgt. Fabian Cota, president of the Mesa Police Association union, which will hold a "Tip-A-Cop" fundraiser next week for the family.

"This isn't an everyday type of occurrence," he said. "Some of the officers that I have talked to said this has been the most traumatic call they've had to attend to."

Animal behaviorists say dogs sometimes become confused with the presence of a baby, which can trigger aggressive behavior.

They recommend parents take steps to acclimate the dog, and they say dogs should not be left alone with an infant. The chow chow breed typically does not do well around strangers.